Cooks, Restaurant Salary in New Haven, CT
Cooks, Restaurant in the New Haven, CT metro area earn a median $39,100 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,762 take-home, or $2,730 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in New Haven, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,512
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,424
- Medicare (1.45%)$567
- Connecticut income tax$835
- Take-home pay$32,762
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in New Haven, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 | $30,472 | $2,539 |
| 25th percentile | $36,920 | $17.75 | $31,109 | $2,592 |
| Median (50th) | $39,100 | $18.80 | $32,762 | $2,730 |
| 75th percentile | $45,450 | $21.85 | $37,579 | $3,132 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,420 | $23.76 | $40,590 | $3,383 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,100 buys in New Haven, CT
Prices in New Haven, CT are 4.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.24× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $32,762 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,334 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in New Haven, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
New Haven, CT ranks #69 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 69 | New Haven, CT | $39,100 | $32,762 | $31,334 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Connecticut
- Bridgeport, CT — $43,400
- Hartford, CT — $39,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in New Haven, CT?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the New Haven, CT metro area is $39,100 a year, or about $18.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,920 and $45,450.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in New Haven, CT?
On the median $39,100 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $32,762 a year ($2,730 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $835 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is New Haven, CT a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,334 would in a typical U.S. city. New Haven, CT ranks #69 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in New Haven, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Haven, CT is $1,591 a month ($1,969 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Haven, CT
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,900
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,290